Towel-rack



PATENTED JAN. 5,1. 1-904.

-. B. D. MULLEN.

TOWEL RACK.

APPLICATION IILLD I'LB. 2s. 1903.

No MODEL.

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Patented anuary 5, 1904. A

PATENT OFFICE.

ELLA D. MULLEN, OF WHITESVILLEpKENTUCKY.

TOWEL-RAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 749,081, dated January 5, 1904.

v Application filed February 28, 1903.Y Serial No. 1.115.596. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.- 'Y

Be it known that I, ELLA D. MULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whitesville, in the county of Daviess and State ofv into position and capable of being folded intov a small compass when taken down.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my rack in position, the hanger-arms being extended. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the sleeve, parts being in elevation, the hanger-arm being extended. Fig. 3 isa similar View, the parts being folded. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the flanged sleeve. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the sleeve placed on the spindle in reversed position,the hangerarm and brace being shown in extended position in full lines and in folded position in dottedflines.

In carrying out my invention I employ a wall-plate A, which may be secured to a wall in any desired or convenient manner. A spindle-base A2 is connected by arms A' to the lower portion of the plate A, and a spindle A3 extends upwardly from the base A2. A sleeve B, having the flanges B at its upper and lower ends, is adapted to fit over the spindle. These flanges are circumferentially reduced in what may be termed the rear portion, and on the forward side the peripheries of the flanges are cut out, forming a plurality of notches B2. Wire members have eyes formed at their inner ends, and these eyes C D are inserted in the notches. The uncut portions of the flanges between the notches are perforated and wires B3 passed there'- through, the wire in the upper iiange engaging the eyes C, and the wire in the lower flange engaging the eyes D, the terms upper and lower referring to `the position shown in the rst three figures.

From the above it is obvious that the wire hanger-arms C' are pivotally secured in the notches by means of the eyes C. These arms are of considerable length. Approximately at a distance of about one-third of their length from the flange to which they are secured they are bent zigzag, the central apex C3 of lthe bent portion being below the plane of the straight portions of the arm when the arm is in a horizontal position.

The outer end of the wire brace D is bent at an angle to the remainder of the arm, then bent to form a loop, the extreme end portion being twisted around the main portion, the outer end therebyforming a loop D2 at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the remainder of the arm. The braces D are much shorter than the arms O', and the loops D2 are formed about the arms C', and it is obvious that while these loops slide freely on the arms C they cannot, owing to the shortness of the' braces D', be disengaged from the arms C. The outer ends of the arms C are bent, as at C2, thus preventing articles hung on them from slipping from them. When the sleeve is in the position illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3, the arms when folded will hang downward, as shown inthe lastmentioned gure; but by lifting the arms C' the loops D2 will slide along them, passing onto the zigzag portion,and,engaging the central apex C2, will lock the arms in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. When the position of the sleeve is reversed, the arms will hang downward, as showninv dotted lines in Fig. 4. By drawing the brace D outward the arm C will be vraised until a horizontal position has been reached, by which time the loop D2 will have reached the bent portion, andafter passing the apex any downward pressure on the arm C will cause the loop to engage the inner apex C4 and will support and l'ock the arm in position. By lifting the arm the lock will slide out the bent portion to the inner side and the arms drop to the folded position. At E, Fig. 2, I have shown a hook secured to the brace D intermediate its ends, on which dish-cloths can be hung. It is obvious that any number of arms may be employed on the 'rack and that of such number as many can be utilized at a time as desired and that the rack may be used in either of the positions shown. Thus if the plate A is permanently secured to a wall and it is desired to bring the arms in easier reach it is not necessary to change the position of the plate; but by inverting the spool on the spindle the arms C will when in a horizontal IOO position occupy a lower plane than when in 'the same position before the spool was inverted.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rack of .the kind described comprising a plate carrying a spindle, a reversible sleeve having a ange at each end adapted to fit over the spindle, hanger-arms pivoted to one of said flanges and having bent portions, braces pivoted to the other flange and having loops at their outer ends adapted to slide on the hanger-arms and engage the bent portions.

2. A rack of the kind described comprising a Wall-plate, arms projecting therefrom, a

base secured to Said arms, a vertical spindle carried by the base, a sleeve on the spindle, outwardly-extending flanges at eachvend of the sleeve notched throughout a portion of their circumference, a Wire passing transversely through the notched portions of each flange, hanger-arms having eyes engaging the Wire in one flange, said arms having bent portions, braces having eyes at one end engaging the wire in the opposite flange and having loops at their outer ends sliding on the hanger-arms and adapted to engage the bent portions of said arms.

ELLA D. MULLEN. Witnesses:

ED LI'rsEY, D. F. BRooKs. 

